Alcazar by Ted Lapidus

I’m not sure if it was an impulse buy. Tempted by the difficulty to get it, the striking and sturdy packaging (survived a fall from over a meter), and the aluminum case. The sparkling opening and the scent in the bottle and case pleased me. The price isn’t bad, so regret is minimal. Alcázar isn’t bad, nor spectacular. Reminds me of other fragrances that shone for their uniqueness. I find it somewhat linear. I hear it searching for the reason of my purchase, without a definitive answer. Sometimes it smells like a catalog, other times like an undervalued creation. In the opening it seems a mix of Silver Scent, Lapidus Pour Homme, Animale, a grape soda, and D&G Pour Homme. It’s rough, dark, sweet, and synthetic, with a detergent but talc-clean halo. It’s informal, with moderate to heavy sillage and outstanding longevity. For cold days, especially nights. Not always are first impressions conclusive. You have to ‘test’ it several times before buying. Scent: 7.5/10, Longevity: 9/10, Projection: 8/10, Versatility: 6/10, Price: 8/10. Update Dec 30, 2016: after a week, the impression is confusing. Sometimes I like it, other times it bores and makes me dizzy. Some days it smells cheap, other cold days suddenly raise its quality. Today it smells pleasant and fine, with a floral and talc opening, plus that grape soda. I feel a sophisticated and sweet dry-down with orange blossom and tonka bean. Anecdote: I gave it to my brother and he thought it was a layering of Versace Eros and Rochas Man. Alcázar seems to grow with use; it has charm and persuaded me to keep it.

I’m not sure if I was carried away by the robust packaging and the aluminum wrapping, which survived a brutal drop without a scratch. The sparkling opening and the scent of perfume in the box won me over, and the price is fair. Alcázar isn’t spectacular; it’s a mix of known classics with a linear touch that doesn’t fully convince me. It smells like a cocktail of catalog perfumes, a grape soda diluted with dark and synthetic notes, with that cleanliness halo that reminds you of dust. It’s informal, heavy, and has brutal longevity, perfect for cold nights where its real beauty comes to the surface. Sometimes it smells cheap, other times it elevates in cold climates with a floral and vanilla dry-down that even my brother mistook for a layering of Eros and Rochas. It seems like a fragrance that grows on you; it has charm and made me take it home.

It’s Ted Lapidus’s first fragrance. It opens with cardamom and nutmeg, very sharp and spicy, then comes the orange blossom and closes with leather and tonka bean. It lasts more than six hours before fading to the skin. Honestly, I didn’t like it at all; on my nose, it smells like disinfectant, but what surprises me most is that people, men and women, give me many compliments saying they love it. Given its composition, it’s ideal for autumn and winter, day and night. It’s excellent for the office, with character, but I wouldn’t dare wear it to casual dates. The design is useful because the tin can later serve as a USB drive holder. In short, it’s a formal perfume that personally didn’t convince me.

Smells like baby cologne x100, but the neroli note saves it. One of the best in its segment; the leather and tonka add density and complexity so it’s not just a one-liter bottle. If it weren’t so potent, kids would wear it without issues. Super unisex, like Mayfair drops but sweeter. The name bugs me a bit. In Andalusian palaces there are orange trees and magnolias, but this is super synthetic (typical Lapidus) and delicious. A little goes a long way; if you overdo it, you’re in trouble. It penetrates clothes on skin, imagine if you overapply. It’s all Lapidus: bomb projection and longevity that don’t go with current trends.

My first Ted Lapidus is Alcázar. Opens with cardamom and nutmeg (I smell the former more), very sharp and spicy. Then comes the orange blossom and closes with leather and tonka bean. Lasts over six hours before fading to nothing. I didn’t like it at all; it smells like disinfectant, but people give me compliments and love it. I don’t see it that way. It’s ideal for autumn and winter, day or night. Excellent for the office, not for casual dates. The design is useful; the tin can hold a USB drive when the bottle is empty. In short: a formal work perfume with character, but I didn’t like it.

Comes in a nice tin, the bottle is deep blue with steel accents. It’s neither modern nor vintage; it has the DNA of Lapidus Pour Homme but softer. Ideal for temperate or cold climates; in heat it can be overwhelming. Three sprays last 8 to 10 hours, it’s sensual and masculine. Opens citrus-resinous, moves through a marked orange blossom, and ends dark and deep like the bottle. Sweet from start to finish, generates compliments, and has excellent value for the quality. I like it a lot, but I don’t recommend buying it blindly.

Alcázar has a weird, almost bipolar behavior. Sometimes it smells cheap and harassing with a rough dry-down; other times it delivers a floral, clean, elegant scent with talc traces. Although it’s not my favorite, it’s not bad; it has quality. Its scent depends on the weather: it blooms in cold and overwhelms in heat. Something against it is that the base notes remind of sunscreen.

Thanks to Josesan for recommending this. I like it; it smells aromatic and spicy, reminding me of Silver Scent but more complex. The opening is intense, then it softens and becomes more wearable. No need to overapply; it’s potent with good longevity. Recommended if you don’t have the Bogart one.

It’s very heavy, with a pleasant and warm aroma, ideal for cold climates and open spaces. The price is quite attractive. Edit 2022: I have a 30ml bottle from 2016 that I’m still finishing, since it was discontinued in Peru.